Staff additions, promotions announced at Optima Bank

Elaine K. Charles has joined Optima Bank as a mortgage originator in the Dover loan office. Charles, who has more than 25 years of banking and lending experience, will assist customers with residential mortgages, refinancing, home equity loans and jumbo mortgages.

A graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a degree in business management, Charles also has completed certification in banking management. She is treasurer for the Dover Lions Club and is a member of the Dover Chamber of Commerce and the Strafford County Board of Realtor Affiliates. Charles, who is married with two grown children, has lived in Dover for nearly 20 years.

Optima Bank also has added two private bankers to its staff.

Scott Richards, a graduate of Saint Anselm College, will be working at the Portsmouth headquarters assisting customers and opening accounts.

Rachel Marie Falk, who brings customer service and banking experience to her post at Optima, has been named a private banker at the North Hampton branch.

Optima Bank’s promotions included:

Robert Gagnon has been named vice president of business development and senior mortgage originator. In addition to strategic planning for business development, Gagnon now leads the bank’s mortgage origination department.

Art Balomenos has been promoted to assistant vice president of operations and assistant compliance officer. He will be responsible for monitoring and directing bank operations staff and day to day functions.

Ryan Ebeling has been named senior staff accountant and has assumed increased responsibilities in the finance department.

Joyce Holland has been named assistant vice president and credit officer. Holland will oversee commercial credit staff and serve as a member of the Bank’s Officer Loan Committee.

Julia Powell has been promoted to senior private banker and has assumed expanded responsibilities within the retail area.

For more information, visit the Optima full-service branches at Two Harbour Place, Portsmouth (433-9600), 26 Lafayette Road, North Hampton (433-9633) and 17 Portsmouth Avenue, Stratham (773-5222) or the Loan Offices at 828 Central Ave. in Dover (516-1175) and 264 South River Road in Bedford (488-6022) or the website at www.optimabank.com.